WMS Barrie Presbyterial Day Apart – Saturday October 24th 2026

By Blog, Events, WMS Archive
tober 24th, 2026 Westminster Presbyterian Church 170 Steel St., Barrie ON Speaker: Cathy Clark Gathering at 9:30am Lunch @ Honorarium $20.00 To Register Contact Janice Terry at janber35@gmail.com

WMS Barrie Presbyterial Day Apart

Saturday, October 24, 2026
Westminster Presbyterian Church
170 Steel St, Barrie
Speaker:  Cathy Clark
Gathering at 9:30 a.m.
Lunch & Honorarium $20.00

Speaker Cathy Clark’s bio:

Cathy grew up from infancy at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Barrie and recently retired from her 10-year role as an active Elder. With her retirement from Session, she is now able to worship closer to home at First Presbyterian, Penetang. Since completing her Master of Divinity degree at Tyndale Seminary, majoring in Pastoral Ministry, Cathy has been blessed to offer her ministry of pulpit supply in several churches across the Presbytery, and continues to provide chaplaincy support to several funeral homes.

Prior to retiring from full-time work, Cathy was the Director of Safety, Security & Occupational Health at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie.

Cathy is married to Gord and together they have 4 children and three grandchildren. They live just outside the charming village of Coldwater. In her spare time, she and Gord love to travel, she sings in a community choir, plays alto sax in a community concert band and gives back to the community by serving on the Boards of several health care and community safety agencies.

To Register Contact Janice Terry at:

janber35 [at] gmail [dot] com

Being an Interim Moderator Today Workshop Recording Now Available

By Uncategorized

On March 14th the Rev. Dr. Peter Bush (Minister at St. Andrew’s PC in Fergus and Moderator of the 143rd General Assembly of the PCC) & the Rev. Jonathan Tait (Regional Minister for Congregational Health in the Synod of CNOB) co-led a workshop entitled “Being an Interim Moderator Today.” The sessions were recorded to make them available for folks who couldn’t attend the workshop in person. Below are the 2 links to the workshop. You are free to share these links with anyone they may be of assistance to.

Part 1: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/185c7w3BhzSmtl-AAvkrDIUCmL591lDUc/view?usp=drivesdk

Part 2:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hXSwMIRzfC_8pl5Qxe6n1uKEruAZRVha/view?usp=drivesdk

Rev. Jonathan Tait Joins Synod of CNOB as Regional Minister

By Blog, Congregational Development Archive

Rev. Jonathan Tait Joins Synod of CNOB as Regional Minister

PDF version of press release can be found here.

Regional Minister for Congregational Health supports Congregations, Clergy and Presbyteries to lead through rapidly changing times

May 2025
Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Regional Consultative Committee is pleased to introduce Rev. Jonathan Tait as the Regional Minister for Congregational Health in the Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda. Jonathan takes up that call June 1, 2025.

As Regional Minister, Jonathan will be available to help support congregations, clergy, sessions and presbyteries as they lead and navigate in these rapidly changing times. “I look forward to working collaboratively with congregations, clergy, elders and presbyteries as we strive to ensure that Christ’s Church and its people flourish in vibrant faithfulness,” says Jonathan. “Whatever you are considering or wrestling with please don’t hesitate to reach out to me — I am here to listen and to help.” In his role as Regional Minister for Congregational Health, Jonathan is available to help with transitions, with visioning for outreach and evangelism, with discerning congregational health and opportunities, with leadership development, and with navigating conflict and other challenges.

Jonathan also works alongside and in conjunction with other supports and resources available from the National Office of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Centre for Lifelong Learning and Ministry Forum at Knox College, and through General Presbyters appointed in some presbyteries within the Synod.
“Our Synod is delighted to welcome Jonathan to this role,” says Mary Veale-Parker, Chair of the Synod’s Regional Consultative Committee. “Jonathan brings a diversity of practical experience and approaches to this role. He is well-equipped to advise and support congregations navigating change and seeking hope.”
Other members of the Synod Regional Consultative Committee include Rev. Peter Bush, Irene Camp, Don Laity, Michael Nettleton, and Janice Terry. Anticipating the retirement of the previous Synod Consultants, the Committee consulted broadly to redefine this role in response to needs of the presbyteries and congregations.

Throughout our Synod we raise our prayers of welcome and thanksgiving for Jonathan’s discernment and call as our Regional Minister for Congregational Health.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Rev Jonathan Tait
email: revjwtait [at] gmail [dot] com
cell: 905-447-0813

Mary Veale-Parker
email: mvealeparker [at] gmail [dot] com

Job Posting: Regional Minister for Congregational Health

By Blog, Uncategorized

The Synod of Central Northeastern Ontario & Bermuda is hiring the position of Regional Minister for Congregational Health.

The Regional Minister for Congregational Health works with Presbyteries, Clergy, and
Congregations within the Synod to help support them as they lead through these rapidly changing
times. Where General Presbyters exist within Presbyteries, the Regional Minister for Congregational
Health works with them to support their work, as needed. The Regional Minister for Congregational
Health provides linkages to supports and resources that exist within The Presbyterian Church in
Canada National Office, the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Knox College and other organizations.

Term – This is an appointment of up to 5 years with the possibility of renewal based upon ongoing review of the role and the incumbents’ performance.

To apply and share your interest in this position, please send your application by email to Mary
Veale-Parker – mvealeparker [at] gmail [dot] com

Please include a brief introduction and a curriculum vitae.

Please describe the personal gifts or qualities which you believe you possess which would be your
assets in fulfilling the qualifications and responsibilities of this position.

Please include three personal references with complete contact information.

Your application should be received by February 25, 2025.

To view the full job posting please use this link.

Thank you!

By Blog, Christian Education Archive, Congregational Development Archive, WMS Archive

I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1: 3-6 NRSV)

A Merry Christmas and a blessed and joyful New Year to you all. We are grateful for your ministry and your ongoing commitment to the gospel and to the church wherever you are. 

This is the last message that we will be writing for the synod website. At the end of December, 2023, we will be retiring from our ministry positions with the synod and transitioning into the next chapter of our lives together. This is the culmination of over 40 years of Tori’s ministry and almost 40 for John-Peter.

As we consider the trajectory of our ministry over the last decades we could never have imagined how far ranging our work would become. Nor could we have comprehended how our lives would be touched by so many people in so many ways. We are grateful for the care and love of friends and colleagues throughout the synod, the denomination and indeed the world. It is a true privilege to be partners in ministry.

As we retire, please be assured of our ongoing prayers for your ministry and situation. Also, please remember that even as the world changes, God is faithful. Paul writes to the Philippians from prison, not to complain but to rejoice and to offer hope. He speaks of his confidence that God’s good work would continue in the hearts and lives of the people of God’s church. And further he prays that their love will continue to overflow as they determine their future. Our prayer for you is the same; that the work of love and discernment will continue in you until the glorious day of Christ.

A Happy New Year and every blessing in your work for the kingdom

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1: 9-11 NRSV)

In Christ

Tori and John-Peter Smit

Please know that the synod is in the process of making decisions about future staffing and this website will be a place to stay up to date on these decisions. They will be continuing to maintain the website for those who wish to use the resources posted here.

Curriculum Updates: Closure of Wood Lake Books and Parasource Distributors

By Uncategorized, , ,

Are you using Whole People of God or Seasons of the Spirit from Wood Lake Books, or any of the Sparkhouse family of curricula (Spark, Whirl, Holy Moly, Connect, Re:form, Echo the Story, Colaborate, or T.B.D.) distributed by Parasource?

You may have recently received news that both Wood Lake Books and Parasource are closing and that this will affect your ability to order curriculum through either of these bodies. In light of this you may have questions about what to do for the fall season of Sunday school – and this may be causing a bit of panic for you and your church. I want to answer a few of those questions now and promise to keep you updated as I learn more along the way.

(more…)